Meteorological indicator



June 13, 1933. A R YNOLDS 1,913,512

METEOROLOGICAL INDI GATOR Original Filed. Oct. 10,1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1*5 gm rw -.1

June 13, 1933. I s; REYNOLDS 1,913,512

METEOROLOGICAL INDICATOR Original Filed Oct. 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A5 W 4-6 V I vap T Hi6 Pam.

GEM

- June 13, 1 933. s REYNOLDS 1,913,512

METEOROLOGICAL INDICATOR Original Filed 0m. 10, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q,,,m u,mm,,m,,,,m,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,,mmk

5 r I 1 I r r g i I Patented June 13, 1933 PATENT OFFICE ANITA 8.REYNOLDS, OI PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY METEOROLOGICAL INDICATOR Originalapplication filed October 10, 1925, Serial No. 61,802. Divided and thisapplication filed May 3,

1 1930. Serial No. 449,576.

This is a division of application Serial No. 61,802, filed October 10,1925.

The invention relates to devices for determining the direction of thewind, and more particularly to a device by means of which atmosphericconditions at considerable distances above the earths surface may bequickl and accurately determined.

One 0 the objects of the invention is to provide means whereby thedirection of the wind in the upper strata of the atmosphere may bedetermined, and the information transmitted telephonically to a stationon the earths surface or elsewhere. 16 Another object is to providemeans whereby an aviator, flyin in the vicinity of a stationmay receiveinformation, as by wireless. Another ob ect is to provide means where-'by information may be obtained automatically under all weatherconditions.

7 Another object is to provide means wherep by one or more of thedevices may be attached to a body, such for example as a captiveballoon, above the earth so that information as to meteorologicalconditions may be obtained quickly from various altitudes,

as may be desired.

Another object is to provide means for illuminating the device for useat night and so under fog conditions.

Another object is to provide means whereby, in obtaining the directionindication, there is no mechanical connection with the compass needle,thereby permitting the latter to'have the utmost freedom in assuming atrue magnetic north and south position.

. One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which like parts are designated by similar characters ofreference, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device with its protecting coverremoved.-

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device supported by means of a captiveballoon.

. Fig. 3' is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4 is a plan view of thecompass needle and the four direction segments corresponding to the fourdirections, north, south, east,

and west.

- casing 1 is an electric motor 17 which drives Fig. 5 is a section ofFig. 4 on the line Fig. 6 is a plan of the circuit for operatin thedevice.

ig. 7 is a diagram showing the operation of the device by wireless.

In the embodiment of the invention illus trated, the device is enclosedin a protective casing 1. and is suspended by means of a universal joint2, from the upper part of a ring 3. This ringvis attached by means of acable 4, to acaptive balloon 5. At the lower part of the ring 3, a cable6 maintains a connection with the ground.

In this position the device is free to re volve turning on bearings inmounting bracket 7 as the Wind shifts its direction. A direction vane 8,serves to maintain the device in such a position that a wind velocitymeasuring element 14, will always be held in position to receive theforce of the Wind.

The device as illustrated, is intended to be attached to a captiveballoon, a kite or any other means of aerial suspension. It is of courseunderstood that if desired the device may be mounted on some rigidsupport on the earths surface in a manner similar to that of an ordinarweather vane.

Mounted on a ramework 16 within th a shaft 18, by means of a worm 19 andwormwheel 20. The upper part of the shaft 18 carries a phonograph record21, four code cams 22, 23 24, 25, and a collector ring 26. The frame 16is carried by a supporting frame 27 which latter is attached at its topto the universal joint 2.

In the upper part of the frame 27 there is mounted a support 28 whichcarries segments 29, 30, 31, 32 representing the four points of thecompass. A compass needle 33 is freely pivoted on points 34 at thecenter of the frame, and carries on its north seeking end a segment 35,the object of which 95 is to transmit electrostatically by induction,code impulses from the cams 22, 23, 24 and 25, these cams being wiredelectrically to the segments 29, 30, 31 and 32 as illustrated in Fig. 6,the compass needle 33, and the segment 35 carried by it therefore serveas a datum for determining wind direction.

A spur gear 36 on the shaft 18 drives a shaft 37 through a spur gear 38,and a worm 39 on the shaft 37 drives a shaft 40 by means of a wormwheel41. Attached to the end of shaft 40 is a cam 42 which engages with alever 43, causing the upper part 44 which is screw-threaded as at 51. Aclutch member 52, which is pivotally attached to shaft 51 at the point53, will rotate said shaft either clockwise or counter clockwisedepending upon whether it engages with gear 50 or with gear 49. The windpressure vane 14, is mounted on a frame 55 which is mountedpivotally ontwo members 56 and 57. These two members are pivotally supported onposts 58, and 59 forming part of the frame16. The lower ends of themembers are pivoted to a frame 60, which latter supports a clutch ring61.

With the motor operating and the wind pressure vane 14 held broadside tothe wind, it will be thrust back by the pressure of the wind, moving theframe 55, backwards and through the members 56, and 57 moving the frame60, forward, thus engaging the clutch 52 with the gear 50. This willrevolve shaft 51 in the clockwise direction causing the nut 63 to moveforward compressing a spring 62, against a support 64 attached to theframe 55. When the tension of the spring 62 reaches equality with thepressure of the wind against the vane 14, the latter will be movedforward slightly disengaging the clutch 52 from the gear 50 and causingthe rotation of shaft 51 to cease.

When the wind pressure decreases, the spring 62 will force the vane 14,forward and allow the clutch member 52 to move back and engage with thegear 49, thus revolving the shaft 51 in the counter clockwise directionand moving nut 63, carried on the screw back until the decreasedpressure of the spring again equals the pressure on vane 14 when theclutch will be moved into neutral position.-

The spring 62, is calibrated in miles per hour wind speed and it willthus be seen that the position of the nut 63 will vary accordingly asthe wind ressure varies.

The phonograph recor which may be of will be slight frictional lossescausing the device to read slightly lower or slightly higher than thecorrect reading. In order to correct for this error I have included inthis device a hysteresis lag compensator.

This feature operates in the following manner. An arm 65, is pivotallymounted on thenut 63 at the point 66. The lower end of said arm carriesa series of flexible springs 67, which engage with a roughened surface68. Therefore with an increasing wind, as the nut advances towards thevane 14, the lower end of arm 65 is retarded, causing the upper end tomove forward further than the nut 63 moves, or in other words an amountjust sufiicient to compensate for the frictional lag of the device. On adecreasing wind speed the arm 65 is moved in a. like manner backwardstowards gears 49 and 50, a slightly greaterdistance than the nut 63,again compensating for the frictional loss. The microphone 45 isslidably mounted on arm 65 and is held in place by two springs 69 and 70whereby the nut 63 may move a short distance while 45 is in engagementwith 21 held by the notches 71 on the under side of 44. In determiningthe direction of the wind it will be seen that the compass needle 34,will point due north at all times. The device however under control ofthe directional vane 8, will swing with the wind thereby bringing acorresponding one of the segments 29, 30, 31, 32 directly underneath thesegment 35, attacked to the compass needle. This will permit thesignalsderived from the cam which is electrically connected to thatparticular segment, to pass through the circuit by induction and beheard by the observer through a telephone receiver 98.

The operation of the circuit is as follows: Current flows from a source72 throu h wire 73, brush 74, collector ring 75, wire 6, motor 17, wire77, collector ring 78, brush 79 and wire 80 to the source 72. i

This causes motor 17 to set the device in operation and during eachcycle there will be two so arate functions performed.

First: hen the circuit combination is as shown in Figure 6 with cam 42in the position shown in Figure 3 and the set of contact springs 99 alsoin the position shown in Figure 3, information as to the direction ofthe wind will be given.

Second: When cam 42 shown in Figure 3 advances to the position engagingthe lower end of 43, raising microphone 45 and operating contact springs99, information will be given as to speed of the wind. I The purpose ofclosing contact springs 83 and 84 is to short-circuit the transmitter 5button when wind direction is being given; the purpose of closingcontact springs 83 and 97 is to short-circuit the vibrator of theinduction coil 89, and of closing contacts 100 and 101 is toshort-circuit the direction code cams when the speed of the wind isbeing given.

Considering in detail the circuit noted under the first combinationabove, current flows from the battery 81, wire 82,-contact spring 84,contact spring 83, vibrator 102, primary coil 88 to battery 81; thuscausing the vibrator 102 to operate. This sets up induced currents inthe secondary 90 which pass through wire 91, brush 86, collector ring26, to the code cams 22,23, 24, 25, and from these when they contactwith their respective brushes to the four corresponding compass segments29, 30, 31 and 32. Segment 35 attached to the compass needle 33 will bestanding over one of these compass segments and will no charged anddischarged by induction due to current generated in secondary coil 90through the particular code cam connected with that segment. The circuitcontinues through wire 103, wire 76, collector ring 75, brush 74, Wire73, telephone receiver 98, condenser 92, wire 93, brush 94, collectorring 95, wire 96 and back to coil 90. An observer listening at thetelephone receiver 98 will therefore receive the particular dot and dashcode in accordance with the compass segment which is in contact byinduction with the compass needle. the direction of the wind at thatmoment.

Considering the second circuit. combination, cam 42, will at that timehave operated the contact springs 99 causing springs 84 and 83 to open,removing the short-circuit from the transmitter button and closingcontact springs 83 and 97, placing a short circuit around the vibrator102. Also springs 100 and 101 will be closed placing a short circuitacross the path through the dot and dash cams 22 to 25 inclusive. Underthese conditions the circuit operation is as follows: Current willflowfrom battery 81, wire 82, microphone 45, contact spring 83, contactspring 97, primary 88 and back to battery 81.

Engagement of the transmitter button 45 with the phonograph disc willoperate the button, and the induced currents set up in the secondarycoil 90 will be picked up by the observer through receiver 98 asfollows: Secondary 90, wire 104, contact spring 100, contact spring 101,wire '87, wire 103, wire 76, collector ring 75, brush 74, wire 73, receiver' 98, condenser 92, wire 93, brush 94, collector ring95, wire 96and back to the This code will therefore indicate.

secondary 90. Through this circuit a voice indicating the speed of theWind will be picked up from the phonograph disc 21.

The cams 22, 23, 24 and 25 can be cut to make any suitable code signal,but as shown they make one short pulse, two short pulses, one longpulse, and a long and short pulse respectively; representing the fourpoints of the compass. Intermediate points will be represented by acombination of two of the above.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated the compass isillustrated with the cardinal points only, but it is to be understoodthat compasses having all of the points may be employed; also any knownmethod of producing a tone may be used in place of 26;

Obviously the device illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 and 5 need not bea compass but the member 33, carrying the condenser element 35, may bepositively driven, and signals other than the points of the compass maybe transmitted.

The hysteresis compensator, and the velocity measuring mechanism are notclaimed herein, but are the subject matter of my copending applicationfor patent Serial No. 605,128, filed December 5, 1922, and the copendingapplication Serial No. 492,394 for patent of John N. Reynolds and myselffiled August 15, 1921, respectively.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes the principleof the invention has been described, together with the apparatus whichis now considered to represent the best embodiment thereof, but it isdesired to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merelyillustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways. a

The invention having been described, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. A meteorological indicator adapted to be carried by a balloon,comprising a first element coupled to a compass for movement thereby, asecond element adapted to be turned to a position corresponding to thedirection of the wind, and means for trans-,

mitting to a remote point a signal representing the angular position ofsaid second element relative to said first element.

2. A meteorological device comprising a wind direction indicatingelement, a com-' pass needle, and means for indicating the angularposition of said element with respect to said needle. 1

3. A meteorological indicator comprising a first wind directionindicating element, a compass, asecond element coupled to said compassfor movement thereby to a plurality of positions, and means forindicating the angular position of said first element with respect tosaid second element.

4. A meteorological indicator comprising a freelyrotatable frame, afirst rotatable element and compass means for rotating said element,both carried by said frame, and a directional vane attached to saidframe for fixing its angular position with respect to the wind.

5. A meteorlogical device comprising a wind direction indicatingelement, a compass needle, and electrostatic means for indicating at aremote point the angular position of said element with respect to saidneedle.

6. A meteorological device comprising a wind direction indicatingelement, a compass needle, a plurality of code producing devices eachcorresponding to a different point of the compass, and electrostaticmeans under control of said needle, for rendering active the one of saidcode producing devices which corresponds to the direction of the wind atthat time. c

7. A meteorological device comprising a freely rotatable frame, acompass needle carried thereby, a plurality of condenser plates fixed tosaid frame around said needle, each corresponding to a different winddirection,

means for turning said frame in a given di-' rection with respect tosaid'wind, a condenser plate carried by said" needle, and a signalcircuit connected with said plates first.

mentioned and with said plate carried by said needle.

8. .An indicating system for a device adapted to change its angularposition in a horizontal direction, comprising a compass needle carriedby said device, means for determining the angular position of saiddevice relative to said needle, and means for transmitting to a remotepoint signals representing said angular position.

9. A meteorological device comprising a wind direction indicatingelement carried by a floating member, a compass needle, and means forindicating the angular position of said element with respect to saidneedle.

10. A meteorological indicator comprising a wind direction indicatingelement carried by a floating member, a compass, a second elementcoupled to said compass for movement thereby to a plurality ofpositions, and means for indicating the angular position of said firstelement with respect to said second element.

11. A meteorological device comprising a wind direction indicatingelement carried by a freely movable support, a compass nee- .dle, andelectrostatic means for indicating at a remote point the angularposition of said element with respect to said needle.

12. A meteorological device comprising a wind direction indicatingelement carried by a freely movable support, a compass needle, aplurality 'of code producing devices each corresponding to a differentpoint of the compass, and electrostatic means under control of saidneedle, for rendering active the one of said code producing deviceswhich corresponds to the direction of the wind at that time.

7 13. A meteorological device comprising a wind direction indicatingelement, a magnetic meridian indicating member, and means for indicatingthe angular position of said element with respect to said member.

14. A meteorological device comprising a wind direction indicatingelement, a magnetic meridian indicating member, means for indicating theangular position of said element with respect to said member and meansfor transmitting said indication to a remote point.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

ANITA S. REYNOLDS.

